A four-run seventh inning helped the Atlanta Braves end the 2017 season on a good note with an 8-5 win over the Miami Marlins.
The Braves struck first in the third as Ozzie Albies doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Kurt Suzuki’s 19th home run of the season to put Atlanta on top 2-0. Freddie Freeman followed with his second triple of the season and scored on a ground out by Nick Markakis.
Max Fried got the start for Atlanta and was locked in early. He struck out five straight between the second and third innings however, things went sideways for him in the fifth.
Tyler Moore and Dee Gordon led off the inning with back to back singles. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a single of his own that scored Moore to make it 3-1. Stanton scored Miami’s second run on a ground out by Marcell Ozuna. The Marlins tied it up on an infield hit by Christian Yelich where Ozuna scored thanks to a throwing error by Dansby Swanson.
That was the end for Fried who pitched much better than his final line. He allowed six hits and four runs although only two were earned. Fried struck out seven and walked just one over 4 1/3 innings.
Fried was replaced by Jason Motte who retired J.T. Realmuto on a groundout but Yelich scored to put Miami in front 4-3.
The Braves tied the game back up in the sixth as Swanson led off the inning with a single and later scored on a ground out by Albies.
Atlanta retook the lead in the seventh against the Marlins bullpen. Markakis and Lane Adams got the rally started with back to back singles with one out. Rio Ruiz popped out for the second out before Swanson singled up the middle to score Markakis and put the Braves back in front 5-4. Adonis Garcia then pinch hit for Jace Peterson and launched a three-run home run to make the score 8-4.
Miami got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Ozuna hit his 37th home run of the season off of Jim Johnson. However, A.J. Minter struck out Bour with a runner at second to end the inning.
Minter allowed a walk in the eighth but struck out the side in a scoreless frame. Arodys Vizcaino worked a perfect ninth to nail down the win.
Atlanta finishes the season with a 72-90 season.